Must-Reads for Every Ambitious Young Female

This time of year is full of conversation about the future. For some of you this topic of discussion is exciting beyond belief. For others, the question “so what do you want to do with your life,” may cause a full-fledged panic attack. However, regardless of the category you fit in, there are some books that can help you during this tricky stage of your life.

Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg. This book will certainly appear at a graduation party near you. Everyone has been talking about Sheryl Sandberg, the Chief Operating Officer of Facebook. Her New York Times best-seller Lean In is the most inspiring guide for women everywhere. Whether you are still in school finding the courage to speak up or a soon to be grad with future workplace fears, this book has answers. Sandberg recounts personal experiences and offers helpful nuggets of advice along the way.

Grace’s Guide: The Art of Pretending to be a Grown-up by Grace Helbig. If you are loved (or hated) for your sarcasm, this book will be your cup of tea. Grace Helbig is a YouTube sensation, who just launched her own late night show on E! She is a powerhouse in the online world yet is still humble and extremely down-to-earth. Her book, Grace’s Guide, is exactly what it sounds like: a guide created by Grace inspired by personal experiences. While this book is rather light and humorous, it does have some helpful pieces of advice that might help you as you venture into the unknown (AKA your twenties).

#GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso. Remember the infamous #banbossy campaign by Beyonce and Diane Von Furstenberg? Well, this book reminds us all that while we should stay away from being bossy, we should all aspire to be the boss. Sophia Amoruso, founder of Nastygal, is a boss. Her story is awe-inspiring and will likely encourage you to pursue your dreams, regardless of how outlandish. This is a story of perseverance, hard work and most importantly, success.

As a young woman, the most inspiring books to read are by successful women who were once in the same place as me. These books are your motivators. After reading them, you will be ready to take charge of your future. And of course, don’t forget Welcome to the Real World by the Intern Queen herself, Lauren Berger!